THE MAGAZINE of TExAs LuTHErAN uNIvErsITy DEcEMbEr 2010...

THE MAGAZINE of TExAs LuTHErAN uNIvErsITy • DEcEMbEr 2010

TORCHSmall World Impact

The Decline of a World PowerDavid Gergen on America’s fading global influence

Global Representation on CampusIt’s a small world at TLU

2 Texas LuTheran universiTy

Torch is published three times annually in September, December and March by Texas Lutheran University Development & Alumni Relations office. Inquiries and submissions should be directed to the editorial staff at [email protected]. AlumNotes submissions and change of address may be sent to the Alumni Relations office at [email protected].

THE MAGAZINE of TExAs LuTHErAN uNIvErsITy

TOrChVol. 35, No. 2, December 2010

Sarah Story

Jenni M. Loer

Naomi Urquiza

Tim ClarkDerrick CollinsCyn HuddlestonJennifer KolbeTravis E. Poling

Danny BatistaDrew C. EngelkeTerry PriceJudy SamfordDustin Wyatt

Robin BishaAssoc. Prof. of English & Communication Studies

Taylor CarletonDirector of Alumni Relations

Nancy HershfieldVP for Development & Alumni Relations

Norm JonesVP for Enrollment & Marketing

Jenni M. LoerMarketing Communications Specialist

Terry PriceAssoc. Prof. of Dramatic Media &Director of Emerging Media

Sarah StoryAsst. VP for Marketing Communications

Steven VroomanAssoc. Prof. of English & Communication Studies

Publisher

Editor

Editorial Assistant

contributing Writers

contributing Artists

Editorial board

Photo by Dustin Wyatt

mailto:[email protected]


TORCH • DeCeMBer 2010 3

FEATURES5 The Decline of a World Power

David Gergen talks about the United States’ fading global influence prior to his February TLU speaking engagement.

8 Canadian Brass Inspires Worldwide Appreciation of Brass Classical to contemporary, Canadian Brass will share timeless melodies during a February concert at TLU.

11 Global Representation on Campus International students at TLU make the world a smaller place.

18 Music Lovers Help Children Discover Their Talents The Lindenbaum Suzuki Outreach Program provides violin lessons to young musicians.

DEPARTMENTS4 Letter from the President

5 TLU Today Feature articles

14 Campus Life Events scrapbook

17 Bragging Rights Accomplishments

18 Growing & Giving From the development office

20 Scoreboard TLU sports

24 Lucky’s Pack TLU point of view

26 Flame Q & A Person of interest interview

28 AlumNotes

34 Flashback Blast from the past photo

35 Save the Date Events calendar

5 8 15 23

THE MAGAZINE of TExAs LuTHErAN uNIvErsITy • DEcEMbEr 2010

TOrCh

Check out the online edition and special features at tlu.edu/torch.


FROM THE PRESIDENT

The TLU story starts with youSometimes alumni get the feeling that their alma mater is only interested in their money. Colleges and universities do need the generous financial support of alumni and friends. But there is another kind of gift that is just as crucial to the long-term success of the university.

Market research indicates that high school students usually attend a college or university they’ve heard about long before they enter high school. That said, if they haven’t heard of TLU by the time they are filling out college applications, they are highly unlikely to include us on their list.

What can be done? TLU could go the way of some universities, investing more dollars in billboard, radio and TV advertising. But unless a university can invest hundreds of thousands of dollars every year over a long period of time, the money spent on these types of mass marketing efforts is wasted.

There is a more effective way to market a university. TLU has a network of more than 15,000 storytellers in place across the country just waiting to spread the word about the value of a TLU education.

If you are reading this, I’m talking about you. You can convey the distinctive learning and living experience TLU offers students just by sharing the positive experiences you have had and the exciting things happening at TLU today.

If you are a parent, coach, teacher, neighbor, congregation member, aunt or uncle, you have a chance to talk to young people about TLU.

TLU also needs new friends. You can talk to your colleagues and friends about TLU and its unique qualities, and make sure you “friend” us on our TLU Facebook page at www.facebook.com/txlutheran.

Telling the TLU story is so important to the university. Be a storyteller. Tell others about the many events they can attend and support such as Krost Symposium, Vespers and Front Row. Tell them about TLU’s renowned choir and music program. Tell them about our majors. Tell them about TLU’s service learning opportunities, study abroad program, honors program and quality internship opportunities. Tell them about you and your own success thanks to your TLU experience.

Share your experience and show your pride.

Go Bulldogs!

Dr. Robert VogelInterim President

Phot

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Dre

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. Eng

elke

http://www.facebook.com


The united states is approaching a make-or-break moment in history as the nation’s status as an international leader teeters on domestic issues. This delicate state of affairs hangs in the balance, while political parties struggle to find common ground.

Once a global leader, the United States lingers

on the precipice of losing its influence.

By Travis E. Poling

The Declineof a

WorlD PoWer


“The darkening picture on our financial affairs” rests with the changing nature of jobs in our weakened economy, says David Gergen, former advisor to four U.S. presidents.

Gergen will draw on his White House experiences as he outlines seven key lessons for future leaders, the state of the country, partisan politics and repercussions of U.S. actions on world affairs on Feb. 22 at TLU's Jackson Auditorium. Gergen is a senior political analyst for CNN and director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

“The world is accustomed to looking to the United States for leadership,” Gergen says. But the state of domestic affairs could weaken the nation’s trendsetting status and political effectiveness on the world stage.

Meanwhile, China is on the rise as a financial power investing in reserves and getting the attention of other nations even as the U.S. seems unable to right the ship, he says. With

the U.S. House of Representatives

back in the hands of Republicans and a U.S. Senate still under Democratic—albeit weakened—control, working together seems increasingly more improbable.

Nationally, manufacturing jobs are disappearing and even more computer services jobs are moving overseas as entitlement spending on government programs grows to unsustainable levels.

Gergen proposes a partial solution to boosting the job market that’s “neat, plausible and right” in his blog. More and more, foreign students are attending U.S. colleges and universities and founding some of America’s greatest enterprises after graduation. “From 1995 to 2005, legal immigrants were CEOs or lead technologists in one of every four U.S. tech and engineering start-ups,” Gergen

writes. But with strict immigration policies in place, these entrepreneurs

no longer launch these start-ups, which employed some 450,000 people prior to the recession. Rethinking the U.S. immigration policy will allow foreign minds to jump-start innovations like Google, Yahoo! and eBay.

“We can regain our prominence, but it’s going to be hard,” Gergen insists. “We have to get the budget under control. We have to find common ground, and leaders have to stop yelling at each other. If they don’t, we’re going to pay a very heavy price to the people.”

Gergen speaks from vast experience as an inside man in four presidential administrations and a highly regarded observer of politics in general.

The journalist and advisor first worked in the Nixon White House as part of a speech writing team that included other well known political and journalism figures such as Ben Stein, William Safire and Pat Buchanan. He later joined the Ford administration after Richard Nixon’s resignation. When Republicans returned to power under Ronald

Reagan, Gergen was back as director of communications. In 1980, he advised the presidential campaign of George H.W. Bush, before the candidate became Reagan’s vice presidential pick.

In 1993, Gergen made an unprecedented move to advise Bill Clinton in his presidency in various capacities including foreign policy and domestic affairs. He then served as special international advisor to the president and Secretary of State Warren Christopher.

In addition to his positions at CNN and Harvard, the statesman is editor-at-large for U.S. News & World Report, a publication he twice helmed as editor. He also was the first managing editor for the magazine Public Opinion.

The U.S. Navy veteran and North Carolina native graduated from Yale in

TLU TODAY

“We can regain our prominence, but it’s going to be hard.

We have to get the budget under control. We have to find common ground, and leaders have to stop

yelling at each other.”

Image courtesy of W

ashington Speakers Bureau


1963 and completed law school at Harvard in 1967. He now lives in Cambridge, Mass.

Gergen has a bestselling book from his three decades of serving and observing the White House. Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership, Nixon to Clinton was published in 2000 and he has contributed to several other books.

As a speaker, Gergen is applying his 40 years of experiences to an analysis of leadership in the U.S. and around the world.

At a speaking engagement this fall to the Worcester Economic Club in Massachusetts, Gergen said he believed that Democrats would hold political sway for at least the next 15 years after Obama’s election as is typical in the cycle of U.S. politics.

But, he said, that all changed with the 2010 mid-term elections, which were less about embracing the Republicans, than rejecting the status quo of the leadership.

Are there any clear solutions to keeping the U.S. as a world leader aside from military might? Gergen believes education will be a key component.

As a board member and champion of Teach for America,

an organization that places those without graduate degrees in education or traditional teaching certifications in teaching positions throughout the nation, Gergen applauds the 12 percent of Ivy League seniors who applied for the program in 2010.

As the cost of teaching degrees and certifications outweighs teacher salaries, post-baccalaureate and alternate teaching certification programs are growing in popularity. However, with strict education policies and an increasing emphasis on curriculum based on standardized tests, teacher turnover rates are rising.

While the U.S. attempts to raise minorities' test scores, the quality

of education suffers. According to Teach for America, Ivy League graduates are giving back with a quarter of all African-American seniors and a fifth of Latinos applying for the 2010 program.

Gergen also points out that minorities now make up 40 percent of the U.S. population below the age of 18 in a nation where even the once advantaged students are behind several countries in various measures of education. All this is happening at a time when we outspend on prisons versus education.

“We are behind. We were once the most educated in the world,” Gergen says. “We have to provide better schools for everyone.”

In a November commentary for CNN, Gergen said that taking care of the deficit would be a prudent step in improving the U.S. global standing across the board.

“For too long, the U.S. has been seen by a growing number of other nations as acting recklessly with our finances. Within less than a generation, we have fallen from being the world’s biggest creditor to the world’s biggest debtor. Fingers are also pointed at us for causing the Great Recession,” Gergen writes. “We increasingly face a stark choice: Either we get our economic house in order or we will lose much of our influence—and our leadership—on the world stage.”

Travis E. Poling ‘90 is a writer based in New Braunfels, Texas.

Feb. 227:30 p.m.

Jackson Auditorium

"Eyewitness to Power: Leadership in America"

David Gergen

“for too long, the u.s. has been seen by a growing number of other nations as acting

recklessly with our finances. Within less than a generation, we have fallen from being the world’s biggest creditor to the

world’s biggest debtor.”


TLU TODAY

forty years ago, a few men with brass instruments got together to play music in ontario, canada. It wasn’t long before they were preparing for a canadian broadcasting performance and doing 250 concerts at schools in the Hamilton area. Now they have performed in some of the greatest concert halls in the world, made dozens of recordings and inspired hundreds of thousands of musicians, including a few well-received international groups following in their footsteps.

insPires WorlDWiDelove of Brass


The ensemble is made up of five players led by group founder Chuck Daellenbach. Co-founder Gene Watts recently retired, but top young players who fit the bill of being outstanding at their art and engaging performers keep the roster refreshed from decade to decade.

The group will play Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at TLU's Jackson Auditorium. “Texas is a constant companion,” Daellenbach says of their touring schedule over the years.

“Our first dream was to go out on weekends and play at colleges,” Daellenbach recalls. There have been quite a few college campuses among the tour dates, but they’ve also taken a third encore at the most famous hall in Venice and toured China enough times to have seen the development from the end of the Mao Tse Tung era to today’s burgeoning cities.

The Canadian Brass has had a cultural impact on music in other ways, too.

“In Europe, there was a strict line between serious and light music,” Daellenbach explains. The group wanted to tour but had a hard time getting a promoter until a respected promoter for the likes of Elton John and Sting took them on. “We take credit for changing the nature of concerts in Europe.”

Early on, the group adopted schools as laboratories for its music. The showmanship aspects they bring to everything from classical pieces to popular tunes were refined in the crucible of the reactions of children, Daellenbach says.

“If they’re bored with something, they’ll tell you,” he warns. Others have tried to get that same mix of virtuosity, humor and personality into ensembles over the years, but it can be elusive unless it comes naturally. “They can’t copy the fact that we’re just being ourselves. You don’t force funny. We treat it as if we’re playing in someone’s house.”

The group now tours much of the year and has made more than 90 albums. Samples of their work can be found at CanadianBrass.com.

More than 200 works have been transcribed, arranged or commissioned for the Canadian Brass, giving them an amazing repertoire ranging from Bach to Gershwin and Latin music to the ragtime of Scott Joplin.

They have played in what was the Soviet Union on their first tour of that region, Japan, Australia, the Middle East and nearly every corner of the globe. They also have performed for television audiences in America with appearances that include the Tonight Show, Today and Entertainment Tonight.

The current lineup features Daellenbach on tuba, Christopher Coletti and Brandon

Ridenour on trumpet, Eric Reed on horn and Keith Dyrda on trombone.

While the Canadian Brass keep things fresh by exploring new music, even 40-year-old works haven’t lost their appeal.

“The more you play a piece of music, it doesn’t get boring,” Daellenbach says. “The better you get at something, the more you get out of it.”

Given the interest in the show from area high school and college musicians in addition to adult music lovers, the show is likely to be a hot ticket.

“This is one of the premier brass performing groups in the world,” says Beth Bronk, director of bands at the TLU School

of Music. Bronk, who plays trumpet in

the Prince Solms Brass Quintet, says it will be great for all musicians to see them, but young brass players will be particularly inspired. “Traveling wind groups are not as common as I wish they were,” Bronk admits.

“To bring Canadian Brass in is significant for Texas Lutheran music students, but also for the whole region.”

The latest album released by Canadian Brass in 2010, titled Spirit

Dance: David Braid, Piano & Canadian Brass, explores the various musical ethnicities and multiculturalism of Canada, creating a fusion of jazz and classical elements that are intimate and spontaneous.

A trademark of Canadian Brass is their sleek black suits paired with white athletic shoes. Images courtesy of Canadian Brass.

http://canadianbrass.com


TLU TODAY

From 1992 until 2001, TLU was home to international students from many countries participating in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program, including eight from Japan. On Dec. 5, 2009, seven TLU alumni from Japan and the mother of an alumna met at an Osaka restaurant with Charla Bailey, director of international education programs. For these students, the ties to TLU are still strong.

Eriko Matsumoto attended TLU from 2005-2006 as an exchange student. Today, she is in charge of export and imports for Shinyo Trading Company. Matsumoto has fond memories of the people at TLU. “The very nice staff, professors and students were always there for me. I still keep in touch with some classmates, my important friends,” Matsumoto says.

Junichiro Tai has been busy as a freelance designer, event organizer and photographer in Japan, but misses one person in particular: Ms. Kathy Hartman from the international office, who still works at the university in the Meadows Center.

Satoko Fukuma works in client Web site management. She expressed a desire to renew her friendship with her TLU roommate and suitemates, who had a

positive influence on her growth as a person. “Meeting them was a treasure to me. Unfortunately, I lost the way to contact them when I came back to Japan.” Fukuma admits.

Their studies at TLU prepared the students well for their professions. “When I was at TLU, e-mail and international calling were important methods to talk with my family and friends,” says Koko Hasegawa ’05. “I felt communications was very important. So after I graduated, I chose a cell phone company to pursue a career in communications.”

Keiko Urakami is a production administrator for a company making Japanese animation, hoping one day to be a sound director. For her, study skills and working hard were incorporated into the small town atmosphere. “At TLU, I liked the environment—an at-home college,” Urakami remembers.

Tomohiko Takeda ’03 returned to Japan to work in the hotel industry in Tokyo, and now works for his family landscaping business. He misses everyone and would like to return to TLU for a Christmas Vespers service, a tradition he remembers fondly.

Some ties between students from the

ESL program are of a more personal nature. Yu (Urase) Mimoto and Yuki Mimoto met at TLU and were recently married. “It was wonderful to meet the nice friends, roommates, professors and Charla Bailey,” Yu recalls.

Also attending the reunion was Dr. Sachiko Kasahara, mother of Mikiko Kasahara, a student who passed away during her time at TLU. Dr. Kasahara has visited the Seguin area several times and says that she feels part of the university her daughter attended.

The impact is obvious, even for those who live a world away. In each of their professions and daily encounters, they carry with them the lessons and connections from TLU.

Each time they reunite whether in person, online, or in spirit, they shrink the world between them and TLU, mirroring the advantages of attending the small campus of TLU. Perhaps Hasegawa states it best in her motto for TLU: “Small campus, Big ties.”

Cyn Huddleston ’10, graduated from TLU with a degree in English emphasizing writing and is currently working toward her master’s in English with a certificate in creative writing at University of Texas at San Antonio.

International alumni from Japan gathered for a reunion dinner in December 2009 in Osaka. (Clockwise from left) Junichiro “Jun” Tai, Keiko Urakami, Yu (Urase) Mimoto, Satoko Fukuma, Tomohiko “Tomo” Takeda, Charla Bailey, Koko Hasegawa, Eriko Matsumoto and Dr. Sachiko Kasahara.

close Ties To TlU for JaPanese a l U m n i

By Cyn Huddleston

It’s not uncommon for a group of TLu students to come from a

particular region. Nor is it strange for alumni to come together to

reminisce about their days spent at the seguin campus. but eight students from Japan, who share a near-decade of time when they crossed paths at TLu, is a prime

example of how the small world of TLu creates bonds spanning oceans.

Get in touch with fellow alumni at facebook.com/tlu.alum.

http://facebook.com


Drilona Aliu, KosovoFinance ’10Why TLU? I applied for the Bislimi Group Scholarship and was selected to study at TLU. It looked like a great opportunity and that’s why I decided to come to TLU. Culture shock experience: It seems that I experience it very often. Every time I experience something new, I experience that cultural shock. Proximity among people was my first cultural shock, but now it is getting better. View on news: I think that people in the U.S. have more news sources, and most of the international news is covered.

Kenya Knowles, BahamasChemistry ’13Why TLU? I never wanted to go to a huge university. I also was searching around for a small university that was in Texas and I stumbled across TLU. It also had a track team, so I was even more enthused to come here.View on news: I think that there are a lot of media sources in America that get the same news, where as in my country it is very different. There is only one local station.

Brett Clark, CanadaAccounting ’14Why TLU? I was getting recruited by the baseball coaches to play for TLU and when I came to visit I liked what I saw, so I decided TLU would be a good fit for me. Culture shock experience: I’ve been coming to the U.S. since I was 9 years old for baseball. I guess I just didn’t think that my nationality would be such a big deal that people are making it out to be. So that was definitely a shock to me.

Texas Lutheran university’s International studies Program allows students from around the world to share in the TLu experience and present worldly views on everyday occurrences. While in the small world of TLu, each person seems to have an impact—some reaching around the globe. Embracing international cultures, represented by the students in this program, opens the mind to opinions beyond u.s. borders. Here, international students share their experience at TLu and how the campus and community culture has shaped their view of their native countries.


Florentina Ferati, KosovoComputer Science ’12Why TLU? I always wanted to study abroad, so when I heard about the scholarship program, I applied. What I read about TLU made me want to study here. Culture shock experience: You have to drive everywhere and the food is different.

Donjeta Gjuka, KosovoDouble major in Biology and Chemistry ’13

Why TLU? It offers a great education and it is a community that supports its students.View on news: American news sources seem very accurate

and they give out detailed and diverse information. The news sources in my country are mostly about politics, while the news in the U.S. is more diverse and includes different aspects of life.

Dielli Hoxha, KosovoComputer Science, Mathematics ’13Why TLU? It has always been my dream to study abroad. More specifically, the U.S. has always been my first choice. In my senior year, I was determined to find a way to study in the U.S. and as soon as I found out about TLU and the scholarships, I applied immediately. Another thing that got my attention was that TLU has small classes, where students get more time with their teachers. Culture shock experience: The U.S. was not how I saw it in the movies. People were different. Sometimes my American friends laughed at me and told me that I speak the English of the books and sounded like a news reporter when I talked to them. View on news: One slight difference is that my country is much smaller and you find out news

faster all over the place. But here, for example, if something happens in Chicago, people from Chicago will know about it, and San Antonio citizens will either hear about it later, or won’t hear about it at all.

Teuta Hyseni, KosovoInformational Systems ’11

Why TLU? I always wanted to study abroad, and TLU had a program that offered scholarships. Culture shock experience: When I first came here, I was amazed how friendly people were. But in terms of cultural shock, it mostly was the different food and the portion sizes. In a broader sense, I can say that here in the U.S. people have more freedom in all ways. View on news: There are a lot of different sources starting from Internet, TV and newspaper. In my country we have fewer news sources since we are a small country and we are also new.

Baptiste Laviec, FrancePre-Law ’10Why TLU? TLU seemed to be the perfect institution thanks to its location. It is next to Mexico, so it’s perfect to get an overview of the relations between Mexico and the U.S. and to study the cultural impact of immigration. The small size of the campus is also perfect to be close to the students and to the teachers. Culture shock experience: The way of life is very different. The education system and the working of the university are different, too. I also like to debate about France with students from TLU. It is very interesting to have another view on my own country. View on news: Here the news sources are focused mainly on America. Also, in France all of the

channels, newspaper and radio agree to say exactly the same things and the journalists cannot afford to give their personal point of view.

Valmir Bucaj, KosovoMath ’11

Why TLU? I received the Education for Peace Scholarship from TLU in conjunction with the Bislimi Group Scholarship. Moreover, I liked that TLU is a relatively small university and also has a good math department.

TLU TODAY


Kade Leniqi, KosovoPolitical Science, International Studies, Geography ’12

Why TLU? I was selected to be one of the three winners of the Peace for Education Scholarship because I was interested in studying abroad and exploring more international relations because by the time that I applied I was a reporter at KTV (a national television station). Culture shock experience: I experienced culture shock with differences in the education system and the lifestyle. Part of it is learning slangs and idioms and trying to conform to social influences with friends and professors. View on news: I think it is very independent and the variety of news sources available makes it easier for the people to choose what news sources can be seen by the public.

Kuanrong Li, ChinaEducation ’13Why TLU? The weather is warm and it doesn’t snow in winter. The campus is small so that I can save a lot of time. And the small classes allow me to have more opportunities to meet with professors.Culture shock experience: I was not able to listen to lectures when I first came to TLU because of the challenges I had with spoken English.

Lynnal Ndimande, ZimbabweInternational Business ’10

Why TLU? It was the one college of all my choices that went out of the way to work with me through the application process and really made me feel like they wanted me to attend TLU. Culture shock experience: Seguin being a small town was a complete contrast from my hometown. The difference in what we call things was also a little challenging. For example, I would ask for a biscuit and I would be given a scone because a biscuit is known as a cookie here and a scone is something completely different. View on news: There is definitely more coverage and freedom of speech compared to my country, which sensors anything that might portray the government in a bad light.

Uzonna Mkparu, NigeriaMolecular Biology/Chemistry, Business ’10Why TLU? I wanted to be a part of the community. I liked the small class sizes and the Lutheran influence. Also, the high academic standards were a big draw.Culture shock experience: Seguin is a really small town. All the activity and fun revolves around Walmart. That was rather shocking because I had never been in the “country” area. View on news: American news sources tend to be opinionated sometimes rather than factual. Case in point: Fox News.

Erblin Ribari, KosovoFinance and Political Science ’13

Why TLU? I chose to come to TLU because I wanted to pursue an excellent education. TLU has a generous community and an excellent academic program where all international students can succeed.Culture shock experience: The language and the culture are very different compared to my country.View on news: American news sources contain available sources that are analyzed by specialists. My country doesn’t have such specialists to analyze the information, or those different sources.

Petrit Shkodra, KosovoBusiness Administration, Management-Marketing ’12Why TLU? The main thing that made me come to TLU after the scholarship was the quality of education that this school provides. I was informed by other Kosovar students of the very friendly environment that surrounds TLU as well. Culture shock experience: For the culture shock, the main part was Seguin. I expected a more lively and bigger city.


CAMPUS L IFE

Homecoming 2010


Save the DateHomecoming 2011

October 28-29


November 201031st Annual Krost Symposium addresses “What’s for Dinner: Global, Regional and Local.”

November 2010 America’s Got Talent’s Recycled Percussion

performs at TLU.

October 2010 TLU Dramatic Media department presents The Adding Machine.

September-October 2010 Hispanic Heritage Month

celebrates with music and lectures.

August 2010 Monumental Ideas in

Miniature Books exhibit challenges traditional

definition of books.

November-December 2010A Month of Music features something for every musical taste.

September 2010Dual art exhibit featuring Pell/Zupp presents modern works.

October 2010 Seguin community enjoys

annual TLU Boo Bash.

November 2010 Faculty Food Show

takes on Krost theme.

CAMPUS L IFE

October 2010Photographer Harry Benson shares images from his career.

October 2010 Watoto Project Benefit

Concert kicks off campaign to aid Tanzanian orphans.


The TLU business ethics team (Sarah Usry, Chris Gohmert, Marshall Hoel and Alessandra Vigil) won second place at the 2010 Ethics Match held Nov. 4-5 in Ft. Worth.

On Oct. 21, Melanie Thompson, business and economics associate professor, chaired a meeting for the Accounting Scholarship Program advisory committee. She also attended the annual meeting of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) held in San Antonio Oct. 24-27.

In November, Marziya Hasan (senior chemistry major), Margaret Owens (junior chemistry major), Nick Kubelka (junior chemistry and biology double major), and Dr. Santiago Toledo (assistant professor of chemistry) attended the 5th Annual Advanced Instrumentation Workshop at Baylor University in Waco.

On Oct 22-23, assistant physics professors Drs. Shawn Hilbert and Lee Powell attended the Fall Texas Joint

Meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), the American Physical Society (APS), and the Society of Physics Students (SPS) held at UTSA with over 300 Texas attendees. Four TLU physics majors presented talks on their summer research: junior Caleb Bahr presented on work done at TLU with Dr. Lorne Davis, senior Curtis Lee on work done at Duke University, senior Talitha Muehlbrad on work done at the MIT Haystack Observatory, and junior Jessica White on work done at the University of Nebraska working with Dr. Shawn Hilbert. Dr. Lee Powell presented on his work in astronomy education research with the NASA Center for Astronomy Education.

Drs. Rocio Ocon-Garrido, Brenci Patino and Ana María González attended and each presented papers at the Asociación Internacional de Literatura y Cultura Femenina Hispanica Conference in Austin Oct. 14-16. Dr. González also presented her book Oquedad.

Associate professor and librarian Martha Rinn attended the annual conference of the Texas Council of Academic Libraries on Sept. 27-28 in Austin, where she was elected to a two-year term as secretary/treasurer of the group. While in Austin, Rinn also attended a meeting of the TexShare Advisory Board, which she serves as chair of the TexShare Database Fees Task Force.

TLU biology students visited the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Ft. Worth during their mid-semester break where they had the opportunity to meet members of the integrative physiology department as well as attend a seminar presented by Daniel

White ‘08. (Left to right) Dr. Bill Squires, Rogers Brown, Clarissa Placencia, Dr. Peter Raven, Chelsea Cruz, Daniel White, Brian Ramirez and Dr. Bob Mallet.

Dunne Conference Center was filled to capacity in early October for MS Panel, an event organized by service intern Drilona Aliu of the Center for Servant Leadership. Panelists included biology professor Dr. Deborah Hettinger, student Amber Karley, and history assistant professor Dr. Rebecca Kosary.

On Oct. 9, hundreds of cyclists stopped at TLU for lunch during the first day of the Bike MS: Alamo Ride to the River held by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Cyclists completed a two-day, 160-mile journey. In its second year to host, TLU had about 170 volunteers on hand to help. Dr. Rebecca Kosary, Nancy Hershfield, and Dr. Mike Czuchry participated.

On Sept. 14, students in the FE 134 classes of Drs. Norm Beck and Tiffiny Sia hosted a back-to-school celebration at Blumberg Park in collaboration with TLU Center for Servant Leadership and AmeriCorps VISTA.

Dr. Judith Dykes-Hoffmann, associate professor of geography spoke at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg on Sept. 19 to congregational members and other city leaders about the changing demographics of the Texas Hill Country. TLU alumni, Pastors Casey Zesch and Steve Qualben, also attended.

Dr. Phil Ruge-Jones, associate professor of theology, had an article published in the most recent Currents in Theology and Mission Journal entitled “Performance Criticism as Critical Pedagogy.” He also presented a paper entitled, “Where Do You Stand? Positionality in Storytelling” at the NBS Seminar in August.

On Sept. 18, Dr. Deborah Hettinger and members of the Texas Academy of Science volunteered with Friends for Rivers to clean a stretch of the Guadalupe River.

Dr. Ana María González from modern languages published her first collection of poems, Oquedad. Her article “Cristiada se deriva de Cristo: el sentido religioso en el poema de Hojeda” has been published in University of Texas Pan-American’s online journal Hipertexto. She attended the 92nd Annual Conference of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) held in Guadalajara, Mexico on July 10-13, where she presented her paper “La (r)evolución de la narrativa en los autores de la Revolución Mexicana.”

At the first “Schola” of this academic year on Sept. 16, Dr. Carolyn Schneider made a presentation based on her new book, I Am a Christian: The Nun, the Devil, and Martin Luther. Following the presentation and discussion, Schneider signed copies of her book.

Two books written by Dr. Norm Beck have been published during the late spring and summer

of 2010: Anti-Roman Cryptograms in the New Testament: Hidden Transcripts of Hope and Liberation; and Blessed to Be a Blessing to Each Other: Jews, Muslims, and Christians as Children of Abraham in the Middle East.

On Aug. 23, TLU students lent a hand to local organizations and community service projects during HOT Dawg Day of Service. Highlights include: 600 pounds of peppers picked at My Father’s Farm, multiple dumpsters of debris removed from the community surrounding TLU, and hours of hard work on three different community gardens.

BraggingRights


“He’s always so excited to do things his big brother can’t do,” the boys’ mother, Bernie Martinez, admits. Christopher, 12, plays the saxophone and the piano. Daniel is taking violin lessons through the new Lindenbaum Suzuki Outreach Program launched this year by the Texas Lutheran Univers ity / Mid-Texas Symphony Community Music Academy (CMA).

Martinez intended to start Daniel in music lessons this year and when CMA sent home flyers with Navarro Elementary students, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. The inaugural class is made up of the first 10 students to respond to the flyer.

CMA Director Laurie Jenschke and TLU School of Music Director Dr. Douglas Boyer developed the idea for the program based on the wishes outlined in

the Lindenbaum family’s endowment left to the TLU School of Music.

Both Arthur and Shirley Lindenbaum were passionate about encouraging children interested in classical music. They understood the importance of starting music lessons early in childhood, well before they reach college, to properly foster talent. Familiar with the Suzuki method, Shirley suggested a program emphasizing the technique.

The Lindenbaums hoped to encourage children to pursue their passions and unlock possibilities. “This program gives Daniel an advantage by opening up other avenues to him other than sports,” says Martinez. At smaller schools, like Navarro Elementary, the arts are disappearing, leaving students with few extra-curricular options beyond athletics.

The program not only fills the gap in offerings, but provides scholarships for students for lessons. The program also provides rented instruments fitted to each child by the Blackerby Violin Shop in Austin.

Children in the program are learning lessons beyond the strings of the violin. “Daniel seems more mature because he has more responsibilities to practice and take care of his violin,” says Martinez. Daniel takes the initiative to practice three times each week on his own—and it shows. “He plays nice and loud. He has a good confident sound,” says Julia Immel, CMA violin instructor. “I am trying to get them to play for each other and their parents as much as possible. Performance skills develop confidence and concentration, one of the many benefits of learning the violin.”

In addition to showing off to big brother and serenading his mother, Daniel is looking forward to performing for his father, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force who has been deployed since January 2010. “The violin lessons are a way of occupying his time productively,” says Martinez. And with Daniel’s dedication to practicing, he’ll be a regular maestro when his father returns in August 2011.

Looking ahead, CMA plans to add two more beginning classes in Seguin ISD next fall, and a second level class at Navarro. Grants to help purchase 60 violins are also in the works.

“This is all due to the Lindenbaum’s generous donation,” says Jenschke. “We hope that there will be others who believe in this growing program and want to help through financial support so we can expand to the surrounding communities.”

GROWING & GIVING

Music lovers help children discover their talentsBernie Martinez watches her 7-year-old son, Daniel, play the violin.

A tiny violin rests in the small hands of wide-eyed Daniel Martinez. At 7 years old, he’s already mastered “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little star” and plays each note confidently, sliding the bow across the strings with ease. Applause follows the melody. Daniel smiles ear to ear at his accomplishment. His mother beams with pride. big brother christopher seems impressed.


Lindee A. Larsen English ScholarshipLindee Larsen loved English and literature. She always said she was a

“words” person, but more than that, she was a “people” person. Her English degree launched her career in human resources, and she held the highest level of certification as a senior professional in human resources. During her 25-year career, she was the director of human resources for several hospitals and medical centers in Florida and Texas, and she culminated her career as director of human resources at TLU from 1998 to 2005.

She loved TLU, the students, staff and faculty. Her TLU friends and colleagues witnessed how she passed on love and joy freely with a sense of humor and spirituality. While at TLU, she was also a board member and twice president of the Guadalupe County United Way, and she loved teaching children in the Junior Achievement Program in Seguin.

After battling elegantly with illness, Larsen passed away on June 19, 2010. Even as she neared the end of her life, she insisted, “I am so blessed.” Her life-long mantra, in very untypical grammar for her was: “Ain’t life grand!”

The Lindee A. Larsen English Scholarship was established in 2010 to be awarded annually to a Texas Lutheran University junior or senior female student majoring in English.

Diversity Endowed ScholarshipThis fall, a new fundraising initiative was launched to support a key goal

in TLU’s strategic plan to build a diverse and flourishing community. The purpose of the TLU Diversity Initiative is to uphold diversity at TLU and ensure that it remains a fundamental value of the university.

The Diversity Endowed Scholarship will provide financial support to students of color, and help attract and retain students of color. Recently, Pam (Johnson) Humphrey ’77, graciously pledged half of the $25,000 needed to start an endowed scholarship at TLU. She is challenging her fellow alumni to raise the other half so that students of color can immediately be impacted through financial support.

“TLU provided me with not only an excellent well-rounded education, but also faculty and staff who were supportive and interested in me succeeding at TLU and beyond,” says Humphrey. “It is for that reason I would like to help a deserving student of color have the same opportunity.”

The educational experience received at TLU is truly empowering and is strengthened by the wide array of voices and viewpoints that come together on campus. The Diversity Endowed Scholarship and support of this initiative will ensure that TLU continues to move in a new direction that distinguishes it as a champion of diversity in higher education.

Learn more about giving at tlu.edu/alumni_friends.

Endowed scholarships are often the difference as to whether or not a student is able to attend TLu. They help the university competitively attract high quality students and maintain a level of enrollment that maximizes the use of faculty and facilities. These scholarships can be named to preserve the memory of loved ones while helping others, or they can be established for specific purposes. special scholarship endowments are named in memory or in honor of individuals or organizations when $25,000 or more has been given to the permanent endowment of the university. scholarship endowment is the top priority for TLu’s next decade of growth and is imperative in attracting and retaining the highest quality student body.

Endowed Scholarships and Giving

38th Annual Endowed Scholarship LuncheonThe 38th Annual Endowed Scholarship Luncheon will commence at noon on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 in Hein Dining Hall on the TLU campus. TLU alumni, friends, contributors, students, faculty and staff will gather for lunch and celebrate the pivotal role endowed scholarships play in the life of TLU’s community of faith and learning. The luncheon also provides an opportunity to publicly recognize newly established scholarships and for students to express gratitude to those who faithfully contribute to scholarships.

The following recipients were awarded for their philanthropic efforts during the President’s Associate Recognition Dinner on December 5, 2010. Recipients are nominated and voted on by the Development Leadership Team.

Philanthropist of the Year: Ed & Evelyn Kruse Awarded to the donor who displays evidence of outstanding civic responsibility as demonstrated by contributions of generous financial resources to TLU.

Foundation/Corporation of the Year: AT&T Awarded to the Foundation or Corporation whose influence and generosity has served to enhance the heritage and uphold the mission of TLU.

Philanthropic Impact Gift of the Year: Ed & Linda Whitacre Awarded to the donor whose gift had a significant impact on TLU during the past fiscal year.

Philanthropic Heritage Award: Blumberg Family Awarded to the donor whose family giving over an extended period has made a special difference to TLU. The family’s service to the university is also considered.

Faculty/Staff Philanthropic Appreciation Award: Dr. Annette Citzler Awarded to a current or retired member of the college faculty or staff whose gifts advance the mission of TLU.


SCOREbOARD

Keep up with Bulldog stats at tlubulldogs.com.

Women’s Volleyball

A successful women’s volleyball season came to a heartbreaking end on Nov. 6 with the Bulldogs’ loss in the final of the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament. Hosted by TLU on Susan Duke Court in Tostengard Activity Center, the Bulldogs took a two-games-to-none lead on Hardin-Simmons but could not close out the Cowgirls, who won the fifth game 19-17.

TLU held two match points in the final game and appeared to win the tournament on a point at 15-14. A late whistle nullified the Bulldogs’ point and ended an on-court celebration already in process.

The Bulldogs concluded 2010 as the ASC West Division Co-Champion and posted an overall record of 17-12 with a league mark of 14-4.

The team entered the 2010 season as the third pick in the ASC West Division, but the Bulldogs defied the prediction and claimed the eighth ASC West title in the last 11 seasons. TLU has yet to finish lower than second in the ASC West.

Senior outside hitter Jessica Stetler received Honorable Mention All-America status from the American Volleyball Coaches Association for NCAA Division III. The All-America honor is the second for Stetler, who also claimed an Honorable Mention All-America award in 2008. Stetler appeared on the All-America ballot after being voted to the AVCA All-South Region Team.

A four-year starter, Stetler ended her Bulldog career with 1,330 kills, 3,898 attempts, and 1,414 digs. She ranks fifth all-time at TLU for career kills. She is third all-time in career attempts, fourth in digs per game (3.54), and fifth in kills per game (3.33).

Stetler set the new ASC record for career attack attempts (3,898), breaking the old mark of 3,384 (previously held by University of Texas at Dallas’s Kyleigh Irish, 2006-09).

TLU senior outside hitter Sarah Black joined Stetler on the 2010 All-ASC Volleyball Team. Stetler received the ASC West Division Most Valuable Player award. Stetler was named to the All-ASC squad for a third consecutive year.

TLU’s Manda Martin, the team’s sophomore setter, was voted the ASC West Newcomer of the Year. Martin also received an ASC West Second Team award.

Martin was joined on the ASC West Second Team by senior libero Blair O’Brien. Sophomore middle blocker Marcia Sagebiel was named to the ASC West Honorable Mention squad.

Women’s Cross Country

The Texas Lutheran Bulldogs ended the 2010 women’s cross country season as the American Southwest Conference Championship runner-up.

The Bulldogs placed three runners on the ASC All-Conference Second Team. First-year runner Melissa Longoria finished the 6,000-meter race in eighth place with a time of 24 minutes, 35 seconds. Fellow first-year runner Keelin Treacy finished in 11th place with a time of 24:47. Teammate, and sophomore, Chelsea Johnson crossed the line in 14th place with a time of 25:02.

All-ASC selection Sarah Black delivers an attack during the 2010 women's volleyball season. Photo by Drew Engelke.

First-year runners Keelin Treacy, left, and Melissa Longoria helped the Bulldogs to a runner-up finish in the American Southwest Conference Championships. Photo by Patrick Zarate.

TLu women's volleyball competes for a near-victory over Hardin-simmons for the 2010 American southwest championship.

bulldogs claim eighth ASC West title

http://tlubulldogs.com

Zoila Garcia, a sophomore transfer from Santa Ana, Calif., was named the ASC Newcomer of the Year. Garcia was the first transfer participant to cross the finish line. She placed 25th overall with a time of 26:03.

The Bulldogs used the second-place conference finish as a springboard into the NCAA Division III South/Southeast Region Championships, contested Nov. 13 in Memphis, Tenn. TLU placed 15th. Twenty-five teams competed at the regional meet.

TLU registered 387 points, finishing just 10 points behind fellow ASC team Hardin-Simmons, this year’s conference champion.

Football

Head Coach Danny Padron and the Bulldogs turned around Texas Lutheran’s football fortunes in 2010 with a four-game improvement from the previous season’s winless mark.

Padron, in his first season with the Bulldogs, guided the team to a 4-6 overall record and to a 3-5 mark in the always tough American Southwest Conference.

The Bulldogs ended a 13-game skid that stretched back to 2008 with a

win in Padron’s second game as head coach. TLU knocked off East Texas Baptist 17-14 to set off a celebration back on campus that included a thorough ringing of the Victory Bell.

The Victory Bell would ring on three more occasions, with home wins over Sul Ross State (on Homecoming), area rival Trinity, and defending ASC co-champion Mississippi College.

The Bulldogs’ 42-14 win over Trinity featured a five-touchdown performance by sophomore quarterback Mitchell Bunger. The McAllen native passed for three scores and ran for two more. Bunger guided the Bulldogs to touchdown drives on six of their first eight possessions against the Tigers.

Bunger’s 80-yard touchdown pass against Trinity went to senior Steven Thrash, who ended 2010 as TLU’s NCAA Division III-era leader in career catches. Thrash ended his four-year career with 151 catches, breaking the mark of 149 held by Jason Trahan. Thrash finished second on the TLU DIII-era list in receiving yards, with 2,108, and in receiving TDs, with 19.

Senior linebacker Jack Moses concluded his four-year career with

3,898 Career attack attempts by Bulldog Jessica Stetler. The career attempts are a new ASC individual record.

268 Total tackles recorded by Jack Moses in his four-year TLU football career. The tackle tally is the third most by a player in the TLU DIII-era.

151 Catches by Steven Thrash in setting the TLU DIII-era mark for career catches.

57 Yards on a completed pass tossed by Brent Peavy to his twin brother Cameron Peavy in TLU’s football game with Howard Payne. Both the pass and completion were career firsts for the freshmen.

12 Goals scored by junior Olajide Olagbegi in his debut season with the Bulldogs. Olagbegi was named to the All-ASC First Team along with teammate Pedro Martinez.

8 American Southwest Conference West Division titles won by TLU Volleyball. The eighth in 11 years came in 2010.

Lucky Numbers

Mitchell Bunger (8) scores on a quarterback sneak in the Bulldogs' 42-14 home win over Trinity University. Photo by Megan Sladek.


SCOREbOARD

268 total tackles, good for third on the TLU DIII-era list.

For their work on the field and in the classroom, Bulldogs Josh Goodlow and Rogelio Cantu were named to the ESPN Academic All-District VI Second Team for the college division.

Goodlow, a junior from Austin, and Cantu, a sophomore from McAllen, made the All-District Second Team as offensive linemen.

Goodlow, a kinesiology major, holds a 3.30 grade point average. Cantu, majoring in international business, holds a 3.34 GPA.

Soccer

Texas Lutheran women’s soccer player Kaysie Boomhower and men’s soccer player Allen Cain advanced to the national ballot for the ESPN Academic All-America program in the college division.

Boomhower was named to the ESPN Academic All-District VI First Team for Women’s Soccer, and Cain was named to the ESPN Academic All-District VI First Team for Men’s Soccer.

Only ESPN Academic All-District VI First Team selections advance to the ESPN Academic All-America ballot.

TLU men’s soccer player Kyle Harper just missed the national ballot. He was named to the ESPN Academic All-District VI Second Team. Harper, a senior kinesiology and business major, has a 3.46 grade point average.

Boomhower, a junior from San Antonio, earned a shot at Academic All-America honors for a second consecutive season. She was a 2009 Academic All-District VI First Team selection. Boomhower, a communications major, holds a 3.97 cumulative grade point average.

Boomhower earned American Southwest Conference Third Team All-ASC honors after tying for the team lead in goals,

with eight, and leading the team in assists, with seven. She registered a team-best 23 total points.

Cain, a sophomore from San Antonio, will contend for Academic All-America honors after posting a 3.90 cumulative grade point average in mathematics.

Cain played for the men’s soccer team for the first time in 2010. He came to TLU in the 2009-10 academic year and performed as the TLU football team’s starting place-kicker. Cain continued his place-kicking duties in 2010 and joined the men’s soccer team. In soccer, Cain scored two goals and had an assist in 10 matches played.

Baseball

The San Francisco Giants’ run to the World Series title brought back memories around campus of the late Ray Katt, who coached the TLU baseball team from 1971 to 1992 and won 502 games with the Bulldogs.

Katt played for the Giants franchise when it called New York home. Katt was a catcher for the 1954 New York Giants when the team won the World Series in four games over the Cleveland Indians.

The 1954 title for the Giants was the last World Series championship for the franchise until San Francisco’s win over the Texas Rangers in 2010.

Katt, who died in 1999, is a member of TLU’s Athletics Hall of Fame and a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame. He played for the New York Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals from 1952 to 1959.

Katt was a member of the 1957 New York Giants, the last Giants team to play in New York before moving to San Francisco.

By Tim Clark, TLU Sports Information Director.

Allen Cain Kaysie Boomhower


Athletic trainers give backThe TLU Athletic Training Club wanted to adopt a philanthropic effort close to their hearts this fall. They decided to raise money for Gridiron Heroes through selling T-shirts and raffle tickets for seats at a Spurs game. Gridiron Heroes is a Central Texas-based, nonprofit organization focused on providing financial and emotional support to individuals who have sustained a catastrophic spinal cord injury through activities associated with high school football.

“It’s such an amazing thing what these people do,” says AT Club president Esmeralda Martinez. “We have been trained to respond to such a catastrophic injury, but we never realize that for them the journey has just begun.”

Thanks to the AT Club, Texas Gov. Rick Perry made October Spinal Cord Awareness Month.

One semester influences generations of wrestlersWhen Doug Conrey received a letter from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum announcing that the Board of Governors had selected him for the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award, he knew exactly who he wanted to thank.

In the fall of 1967, Conrey was a freshman football player for Texas Lutheran College. Like most of the team, he took a physical education course taught by Dr. Kieth Skogman in the old basketball gym’s workout room. During the wrestling unit, Skogman taught escapes, takedowns, pinning combinations and the basic rules of intercollegiate wrestling using some horsehair tumbling mats.

Conrey ended up transferring to Sam Houston State University in the spring of 1968 to pursue football, but Skogman’s wrestling techniques stayed with him. When he took his first coaching job at Roosevelt High School in San Antonio, he introduced a wrestling unit, which was so successful, Roosevelt hosted the first high school wrestling tournament in South Texas in 1973. He went on to found the first wrestling team at Churchill High School in San Antonio in 1991, where they won an unprecedented five state regional championships. Conrey left Churchill 12 years ago and became a state wrestling official and the UIL Region IV wrestling tournament director.

“No one realizes the seed that he planted,” says Conrey. “Without Dr. Skogman, there wouldn’t be wrestling in South Texas. His influence made 40 years of wrestling for kids possible.”

On Oct. 23, Conrey was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Texas Chapter. As he posed for pictures with his award and his wife, Lillian, who also attended TLC in 1967, Conrey was able to revel in the pivotal influence of that single semester he spent at Texas Lutheran.

After nearly 43 years, Conrey finally composed the letter he meant to write decades ago informing Skogman of his role. “Although I only attended TLC for one semester,” Conrey wrote, “it was enough time for you to impact my life, so that I could then impact a generation of athletes. In life we seldom ever see or hear about the deeds and accomplishments of the ones we interact with, but I hope that you will accept not only my thanks, but thanks from all of the wrestlers in the state of Texas, for that simple wrestling unit you taught to a bunch of freshman football players in the fall of 1967.”

Doug Conrey (left) and fellow National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee Bill Gillespie pose next to a miniature replica of The Wrestlers statue by Cephisodotus.

Athletic training majors Mariah Walker, AT Club president Esmeralda Martinez, and AT Club vice president Lauren Carver present Gridiron Heroes with a check for $2,000 during halftime at the Nov. 6 TLU football game. Photo by Taylor Choate.


LUCky’S PACk

Our current students need what you’ve got—EXPERIENCE! In this season of gift giving and celebration, the Office of Career Development and the Office of Alumni Relations are teaming up to encourage you to give the simplest, yet most profoundly life-changing of gifts—your time and experience.

Were you a Spanish major who studied abroad and went to work for the State Department? A history major who went on to law school? A psychology major who joined the Peace Corps? A biology/premed student who got into the medical school of your dreams? Were you the student who wasn’t sure what you would do after graduation? No matter what your experiences have been, there is a student who can benefit from your insights and advice.

Additionally, as you are likely already aware, our students face an especially tough job market upon graduation. Getting that extra attention from you, practicing networking skills and asking questions of someone who has already “been there, done that and gotten the T-shirt” can be incredibly helpful in advancing their careers and passing the torch to a new generation of young alumni.

Here are two ways you can get involved:• Become an Alumni Career Mentor! It’s easy to sign up via

Jobs4Bulldogs at: www.myinterfase.com/tlu/mentor. You control what information students can see, how they may contact you, and how many contacts you want to receive. You can even keep your contact information “anonymous” within the system if you like. Once you’ve registered, students can search for you using the major or career track you selected.

• Attend the Senior-Alumni Networking Mixer on April 7 and enjoy meeting and networking with the TLU class of 2011. By sharing your insights and advice with TLU seniors, you will help them build confidence and polish their professional networking skills.

We welcome your questions and look forward to partnering with you for the benefit of our students!

Join the ranks of alumni who have made the journey back to TLu to spread their wealth of knowledge and experience. Here is a sampling of this semester’s alumni presenters.

Biology/Chemistry Homecoming “Distinguished Alumnus Speaker” Laura Hunsicker-Wang ‘96, assistant professor of chemistry at Trinity University, spoke on Oct. 1 about “What is the Function of the Sco Protein from Thermus thermophilus?” She was awarded her Ph.D. in chemistry from Texas A&M University.

A Chemistry Seminar on Oct. 29 was presented by James Swanzy ‘71, principal scientist for Mary Kay, Inc. in Dallas. His seminar was on “Chemistry and Problem-Solving in Industry.”

A Biology Seminar on Oct. 29 was presented by Michael Smith ‘79, Ph.D., currently a professor of integrative physiology at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Ft. Worth. He is also the curriculum director for the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Smith’s seminar was titled “Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease: Your Snoring Dad is Not Just an Annoyance.” He also held a special session with science students interested in health professions to educate them on the admission requirements and expectations of the various programs in graduate school, medical school and other allied health programs. He also gave the students an overview of the multidisciplinary programs at the University of North Texas.

Chapel Speakers:Dr. Nick Wilkens ‘91 spoke about defining yourself and new beginnings on Sept. 1.

On Sept. 17, Ragnar Rowland ‘98 spoke on the “Bread of Life” theme and shared his story of how he lost over 250 pounds.

Rev. Brian Gigee ‘76 spent time on campus talking about being a parish pastor and led the Sept. 23 chapel on being a powerful influence on others.

For Homecoming chapel, Dr. Willie Staats ‘60 spoke about being a student at TLC 50 years ago.

Vance Blackfox ‘99 spoke about how our ancestors contributed to our faith lives on Oct. 4.

On Oct. 18, Anna Troy ‘08 spoke on the “Bread of Life” theme and shared her story of service in Central America.

Rev. Jamie Bouzard ‘81 spoke on the “Bread of Life” theme on Oct. 27.

Lucas Land ‘01 spoke on the Krost Symposium theme about consumerism, industrial food and the Eucharist on Nov. 3.

On Nov. 5, Jill Hokanson ‘07 spoke on “The Rich Life” of service.

calling all Bulldogs!

Taylor CarletonDirector of Alumni Relations830-372-8026; [email protected]

Kimberly Watts, JD, MA, LPC-IDirector of Career Development830-372-8178; [email protected]

http://www.myinterfase.com




The TLU community always enjoys hearing about the success of its alumni, but those stories are invaluable when shared in person with current students. Whether you’re a biology major or a dramatic media major, there’s something you can share with each and every student regardless of your field.

Troy Halsey ’04 came back to impart advice to current dramatic media students and impress on them the value of their degree while emphasizing what it is about TLU that will make them a prime job candidate upon graduation. Only six years out, Halsey is already the lead scenic designer and creative/experience director at The Freeman Company, one of the industry’s largest event companies in Dallas.

Dramatic media department chair David Legore recalls Halsey “showed entrepreneurship from day one” and acknowledges, “being a self-starter goes a long, long way toward success.”

Looking back, Halsey can say with confidence that TLU’s size made it possible for him to get a great deal more experience right away than he would have at a larger school. He was able to practice his craft more, get hands-on experience early on, which really boosted his confidence. Of course, having professors like Legore willing to talk about the real world instead of just class work helped tremendously. He was given the opportunity to practice leadership and management skills he uses daily. “I could not have asked for a better college experience to use in my life and my career,” says Halsey.

His true motives for coming back to campus were pure and simple: to share what he’s learned and what he wished someone had told him as a student who only had an inkling of what he really wanted to do with his degree. He emphasized the versatility of a dramatic media degree, especially in relation to a traditional theatre degree; how he uses skills from classes he thought didn’t apply to him; the importance of networking; and why having more than one resume and portfolio is integral to landing the job. Halsey also used the opportunity to speak to students as practice for his long-term goal of becoming a public speaker who teaches how creative design can advance any career.

While Halsey works toward branding himself as a public speaker, he notes branding applies to more than just companies and products. “Make a conscious effort to start thinking of yourself as a brand,” urges Halsey. Finding a niche and specializing, “That’s the only way you’ll get ahead—becoming the most knowledgeable on a subject. Doctors do it, so should you.”

From doctors to creative directors, TLU alumni have the opportunity to supplement and continue the work of their professors. When students enter the real world, they’ll want to have some wisdom from those who have been there, done that. After all, “Graduation is the first milestone of education,” says Halsey. “You’re always learning.”

Troy Halsey ‘04, Dramatic Media, published his first book in September 2010 titled Freelancer’s Guide to Corporate Event Design: From Technology Fundamentals to Scenic and Environment Design.

Alumnus shares value of degree with current students

“I could not have asked for a better college experience to use in my life and my career.”


FLAME Q&A

How is it that you came to work at TLU?

There was a congregation in Michigan that sent me a letter and said they would like to invite me to pursue education in America and pay a portion of my fees. I later found out that the congregation was unable to help me with the tuition, so I worked on campus to pay my tuition. At the end of my bachelor’s degree, the president of Concordia said if I want to pursue a master’s degree, I could continue to stay there, work on campus, and he would help with the rest. He was an angel to me. When I started to pursue my master’s, he called me and told me he had finished paying off my debt and gave me a full scholarship for my master’s. At the same time, I enrolled myself in information systems at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. That’s when I became very interested in technology. I was offered a job at Concordia University once I finished my master’s to help in the IT department. I was there for about four years teaching the international business and marketing classes and finance, but I was also working for IT. Then in 2002, I joined TLU.

Did you experience culture shock coming from Tanzania to Concordia, or Concordia to Texas?

I went through all kinds of culture shock coming to America. I couldn’t drink the water for a whole year because it was so different and I would get sick. I also experienced it coming from Concordia to TLU. The Texas way of speaking English is different and also here in Texas the weather is hot and kind of humid.

Have you returned to Tanzania?

I have returned home four times since I’ve been here. When I came for my degrees I stayed here for 10 years without going back home. When I went home after those 10 years, I got married to my wife Elly. I stayed home for about six months and I wasn’t sure if I’d come back to America because my visa was up, but by God’s miracle I was called by Concordia to work with the university and so I was able to return with my wife. Since then I’ve been back home about three times with my two children. I have three children, but the youngest was just born this last year and has not been with us to Tanzania yet.

Tell me about your involvement in the Watoto Project.

This is a project that my wife and I started almost seven years ago. My wife has so much passion for working with kids and we have seen many kids who lack very basic necessities. There are many Tanzanian people that would love to come to America and live here and learn here, so the question I asked myself was, “Why me?” and how can I use my presence here to help? My wife and I discussed what we could do to bring awareness of these young, struggling children to American people here. The Faith Lutheran Church here in Seguin has really embraced this and they have September set aside for fundraising for the Watoto Project. TLU has recently started taking part in this as well. Many students have been able to go to school, buy clothing, go to secondary schooling,

buy food, and most importantly have support in medical expenses. I can’t think of anything else I could do to make me feel like I’m doing something to help Tanzania other than to help these orphans.

As an international faculty member, what do you try to share with your classes and the TLU community?

One thing that I try to share with students here is not to take technology for granted because you really do have everything here. Where I come from, students don’t have access to the Internet, laptops or computers. I have also noticed that many of the students that I teach have never really traveled. Some have, but for the most part their whole worldview is in the realm of Texas or the immediate areas where they were born and raised. One thing that I share that students tend to be surprised over is how much influence the U.S. has on the global economy. Students tend to like that and enjoy expanding their horizons.

What do you miss about Tanzania?

I will say that the biggest difference here is that many African nations live in a very close community. People live in the same area as the family and tend to be close to one another, but when you compare that to the family in America, everyone is very independent and once kids hit certain ages they are completely on their own. I respect that and understand that, but I do miss that community of closeness that is not easy to replicate here. What I miss from home is that people are also very welcoming and generous to strangers. It doesn’t matter what time you show up, if someone knocks on your door without notice the person in the house will stop what they are doing and talk with and entertain the guest. The little they have they are so happy to share with anybody and it doesn’t matter that you do not have a pre-planned appointment with them.

Professor and Instructional Technologist

Hometown: Tanzania, Africa

Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from

Concordia University

Rodrick Shao


Did you experience culture shock coming to Texas?

I didn’t know what Texas was about. Part of it was experiencing the extreme heat. Also, I came from a city close to two million people and then went to Victoria, Texas, which is a town of about 50,000 people at the moment. It felt very quiet to me. I didn’t know how to speak English very well in 1999, so I had a hard time communicating feelings and just expressing myself, which was very difficult for the first few months. I was also put in difficult classes in high school, which helped me because I was forced to challenge myself and understand what was going on. I am very thankful for the many people here who really helped me transition to the university when I arrived. The community really welcomed me.

Where did your interest in the sciences come from?

I came to the U.S. with the intention of studying aerospace or aeronautical engineering, but the opportunity to get a scholarship presented itself at private schools, not at public universities where many just dismissed international students. TLU recognized I had actually gotten the valedictorian degree from my high school in Ecuador. At TLU, I came with the idea of doing physics because it was engineering related, but when I took general chemistry my first semester here, I got really interested in the class because it was the hardest class I was taking. By the end of my sophomore year I was certain I wanted to do chemistry instead of engineering.

What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve experienced?

Perhaps culture shock. Small town people, it seemed, weren’t as interested in getting to know about the culture. It was a challenge to communicate that and get them excited about who I was as a person. I had to learn how people joked, interacted, lived together, did things together, how young people hung out. That’s always a continuous challenge, I

think. Always I feel like I look at things from the outside as opposed to being completely part of the culture here. Then there is definitely the language challenge: the fact that it’s not my native language and I have to work with it constantly. Culturally, the adaptation and being away from family is very difficult. It was a big challenge to leave everyone behind and live by myself here. That was difficult as a 17-year-old.

What do you miss about Ecuador? Do you visit?

I go at least once a year, if not more, when I get a chance. I miss how affectionate people can be in Ecuador. There is a certain difference in the level of proximity you can have with people here. I also miss the food a lot. I miss the geography of the country, how beautiful it is, and the mountains, and things I can do there. I also miss the family of course.

What are your proudest accomplishments?

I think I’m very proud of having survived the transition when I was leaving my home and coming into the United States and somehow being successful in that process. I think a lot of students struggle with going to college and starting a new thing in their lives and I’m very proud for being able to pull through and make a decision. I challenged myself; I adapted, matured a little bit and made the best out of my opportunity of coming to this country. I’m proud of having worked very hard through that because this is a dream come true for me to be here, giving back to the school where I came from. That is huge for me.

What do you enjoy most about being on the faculty here?

What I love most about my job is being able to try to put a seed of questioning and doubt in a student’s mind. Not necessarily teach them something they can maybe learn from somebody else, but just making them think that they’re capable of asking difficult questions and having them question themselves to get better, to learn and to progress in their careers. I hope that I can accomplish that with my students. I try to give them all the time I can and I love helping them to be curious about things.

As an international faculty member, what do you try to share with your students and the community?

Making people aware that different cultures are not either good or bad, but that they’re simply different. My presence and my background hopefully help people to question and to be curious about those differences. That’s something I think people benefit from. I contribute by having gone through the struggle of being an immigrant in this country and having had to adapt to the culture. I think I can communicate that to students because they experience something similar whenever they come to the university as a new student or get into their discipline. For students it’s venturing into a new world very much like I did.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Hometown: Quito, Ecuador

Came to U.S. in 1999 as high school exchange student

TLU class of 2004 graduate

Ph.D. from University of Washington

Santiago Toledo


2005Trey Steven Daum ‘05 married his wife Jessica (Harris) Daum on June 12, 2010. Both are currently students of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., where the wedding took place.

2006 kolin Sutton ‘06 and Lauren Mills were united in marriage on Oct. 2, 2010. The ceremony and reception was held at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio. The newlyweds escaped to St. Lucia for the honeymoon. Kolin works as a sales representative for Rush Enterprises Inc., in New Braunfels. The couple now resides in Austin.

2007Michelle (Whitener) Hale ‘07 and her husband Mark celebrated their first anniversary on Oct. 10, 2010.

Marcus Meaux ‘07 married his wife Lauren (Cole) Meaux on Dec. 19, 2009.

2009Tanya (keilers) Tousek ‘09 married Darrin Tousek on June 26, 2010.

Amanda (Schnelle) and Jeremy Ullrich both ‘09 united in marriage on June 12, 2010 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas. TLU Pastor Greg Ronning was one

of three pastors who officiated the double ring ceremony. Sheryl Evans ‘82 provided music and Dr. Douglas Boyer was one of the readers. Other participants were maid of honor Angela Schnelle; best men Jonathan Lys ‘09 and David Westbrook; groomsmen James “Wil” bassett III ‘07, David Haug, and Ryan Anderson ‘10; usher Russell Dittrich ‘10. Members of the house party and others assisting were Reagan Wilson ‘10, kelli Roberts ‘10, brittany Wheeler ‘10, Elizabeth Holschuh, Lauren (Haug ) Lys ‘10, and Mary-Ellen Tolliver ‘10. After a wedding trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico, the couple now resides in St. Paul, Minn.

ALUMNOTES

klinton “Wes” and Jessica (Matlack) Cain both ‘09 married on January 1, 2010. Their wedding party included students and alumni from TLU: Marcus bigott ‘08, Andrew Dietzel ‘09, Jonathan Lys ‘09, Ryan Anderson ‘10, Paul Theiss ‘10, Lauren (Haug) Lys ‘09, Mary-Ellen Tolliver ‘10, kelli Roberts ‘10, and Elizabeth Holschuh who is in her senior year. Wes is now studying at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, N.J.


1995Tanya (kramer) Hodges ‘95 and her husband Sean have two beautiful children. Daughter Kyla Michelle was born Sept. 12, 2000 and son, Raiden Duce, was born on April 30, 2008.

1996Allison (Albright) ‘96 and Christopher Gorrebeeck ‘95 proudly announce the latest addition to their family with the birth of Gavin Christopher Gorrebeeck on July 10, 2010. He was welcomed by big sister Ava Elaine, 3, and big brother Griffin Walt, 16 months. The family moved back to Texas in September 2010.

1998kimberly (McDaniel) Lopez ‘98 married Mario Lopez on June 6, 2009 at the Randolph AFB Chapel. They welcomed their daughter, Isabella Rose McDaniel-Lopez, on July 12, 2010 in San Antonio. Kimberly is working as a marketing officer at Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union.

1999Scott Messmer ‘99 and his wife Rachel welcomed the birth of their third son, Ryan Thomas Messmer, born April 2, 2010.

2002kerri (bush) Dunsworth ‘02 and her husband, Adam, welcomed their first child, Noah Thomas Dunsworth, on June 17, 2010.

2003Jonathan French ‘03 and his wife Nicole are proud parents of their daughter, Paisley McKay French, born October 7, 2010 in Biloxi, Miss. Jonathan returned home June 20, 2010 from a CENTCOM deployment to Afghanistan in support of U.S. Armed Forces in and around Kandahar City.

2006Lori (Lorenz) Gonzales ‘06 and her husband Jacob welcomed their first child, Dylan Jacob Gonzales, on May 18, 2010.

2008Carrie (Herford) Says ‘08 and her husband Bryan Says welcomed a baby girl, Brylee Leeann, on April 27, 2010.

Samantha Grones, 3, daughter of Patricia and Matthew Grones ‘89, pictured with her new brother, Spencer, shortly after his birth on March 22, 2010.

Send your AlumNotes to [email protected].



1963 Dorothy A. Ebert ‘63 retired last November from Landa Park as a ticket sales/concessions worker. She will be happy to spend more time with her son Max Ebert ‘98 who works in Austin at Celestica Aerospace Technologies.

1966 Willis “Woody” Wilk ‘66 retired after 25 years as sports publicist at Fresno City College in September. In 2009 he was inducted into the FCC Football Wall of Fame as a Cornerstone member, a category reserved for former coaches, community spirited contributors and staff. Former players on the WOF include Tom Flores and the late former governor of Nevada, Kenny Guinn. As part of its Centennial Celebration, FCC, founded in 1910, has chosen to honor Woody as part of its “100 Stars for 100 Year.” The list includes sports sociologist Dr. Harry Edwards; 1996 U.S. Olympic men’s track and field coach Ervin Hunt; baseball Hall of Famer Tom Seaver; former California assemblywoman Sarah Reyes; former California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamonte and noted Dead Sea Scrolls archeologist Dr. Robert Cargill. At the July national convention of the College Sports Information Directors, Mr. Wilk was presented with the CoSIDAs Lifetime Achievement and 25-year awards.

1971 kermit Tschiedel, Jr. ‘71 has retired from Shell Oil E & P Research Lab in Houston after more than 35 years as a R & D chemist. Kermit and his wife Evelyne recently moved to the San Antonio area. They are now near their daughter Anna (Teschiedel) Hosek ‘01, son-in-law Randy Hosek ‘00 and their 2-year-old granddaughter Madeleine.

1973Ann beicker’s ‘73 granddaughter Sarah Wright married Tom Bradshaw on Dec. 12, 2009 and they have a 5-year-old daughter, Hayden Elizebeth. Ann’s daughter Janice (beicker) Wright, attended ‘73-‘75, graduated with her master’s from Alpine with honors and now teaches in Hondo.

1985Ila Jurisson ‘85 continues to work for the U.S. Department of State as a diplomat. She is currently posted in the Netherlands. Previous postings include Fiji, Bolivia and Mexico.

Cindy (Elstad) North ‘85 resides in Austin, Texas with her husband and is an Executive MBA student at Texas A&M University.

1988 kristin (kneten) Cline ‘88 in May 2010 was promoted to professor at Wittenberg University where she is also chair of the chemistry department.

1989ben Huseman ‘89 returned to law enforcement after several years as a private investigator joining the Texas Lutheran University police department. He recently received his Master Peace Officer certificate and is now a police classroom instructor, firearms instructor and tactical unit instructor.

ALUMNOTES

Mark Putman ‘76, Gayle (behrens) Goldapp ‘73, Marianne (Putman) Gould ‘72 and Jimmy Goldapp ‘73 visit Branson Landing in southern Missouri. Gayle and Jimmy Goldapp presently live in Holister and Putnam in Springfield, Mo.

Leroy Haverlah, Jr. ‘61 gathered with friends on Sept. 20 in Mason, Texas in front of the house built, stone by stone, by Rev. Ray kraemer ‘61. (Left to right) Dorthy Kraemer, Rev. Charles Eckert ‘61, Rev. Ray kraemer ‘61, Dr. Mike Jenson ‘61, and Leroy Haverlah, Jr. ‘61.


1994 Mark Sather ‘94 was promoted to global product manager for diagnostic cardiology at the ScottCare Corporation, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. ScottCare is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway that manufacturers and sells cardiology monitoring hardware and software to hospitals, cardiologists and research facilities. Mark and his wife Diane have two children (Madison, 9, and Andrew, 5) and live in Huffman, Texas.

1997Mary (John) Hoffmann ‘97 recently changed career paths. She is now a travel agent with Small World Vacations, which solely books Disney-related vacations.

1999 Erin Deason ‘99 was named the Region 20 Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Assistant Principal of the Year for the 2010-2011 school year. She and her husband, Andy, are raising their two beautiful daughters, Gracie, 5, and Kinsey, 2.

2000 Mark Durfee ‘00 graduated from Tarleton State University with a Master of Education degree in educational administration and passed the state principal exam in Dec. 2009.

2003Lauren (Dow) Wegner ‘03 was ordained into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament on July 7, 2010 at Shepherd of the Hills

Lutheran Church in Austin. She and her husband, Dave, now live in Raleigh. N.C., where Lauren serves as associate pastor-director of faith formation at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Lesley (bryan) Williamson ‘03 graduated with honors in May 2010 from Queens University of Charlotte, N.C. She received a Bachelor of Science in nursing. Lesley now works at Texoma Medical Center in Sherman as a registered nurse in the emergency department and resides in McKinney.

2009Allison breda ‘09 started as an intern in corporate services at Tesoro Corp. has now transitioned into a full-time role as a conference planner at Tesoro’s San Antonio headquarters. She now lives in San Antonio with fellow alumna Katy Thaler ‘09 who works for Baptist Health Systems at Northeast Baptist in San Antonio.

2010 Arminda “Mindi” Scogin ‘10 is a first grade teacher at Pleasanton Primary School and is very excited about her position.

Randy Peloquin ‘01 during his very first sprint triathlon race held on June 4, 2010 at Cherry Creek Reservoir in Denver, Co. He finished the race in 1 hour, 53 minutes.

Psychology associate professor Dr. Scott Bailey paced for Dr. Eric Gilbertson ‘96 the last 25 miles of the Cactus Rose 100 Endurance Race at the Hill Country State Natural Area near Bandera. Gilbertson finished the 100-mile trail race in fourth place (out of 75 100-milers) in 23 hours, 42 minutes.


1927Gladys “Suki” (Ulland) Tuley ‘27 of Bay City passed away Aug. 5 at the Clifton Nursing and Rehabilitation at the age of 99. She was an art teacher and painted in her home studio until a few weeks before her death. She loved art and fishing.

1928bendella Amilda Olson Stokes ‘28, age 99, passed away on March 25 at Houston Hospice. She was a teacher and educator. She retired from teaching at Memorial Drive Elementary School in the Spring Branch Independent School District.

1935Mary (Smith) Jubela ‘35, a resident of Palestine, died June 1.

Martha Probst Reue ‘35, mother of bonnie Reue bahr ‘77, passed away on June 28. She was a long-time educator in Rosenberg, and a long-time supporter of TLU, establishing the Hugo & Martha Probst Scholarship in honor of her parents.

1938Elman bargfrede ‘38 of Encinitas, Calif. died on July 14 at the age of 91.

Selma (Dahl) Reneau ‘38 of Spearman died June 27, 2009. During WWII, she worked at Hansford County ASCS office, and later was a carrier for the Amarillo Globe-News. She served as Hansford County treasurer for 12 years, retiring in 1978.

1940Jo beth (Earl) Christenson ‘40 passed away Jan. 30, 2009. She worked with her husband, Finis, for many years on the family farm near Meridian. She later

worked as a Bosque County Deputy Clerk for 10 years before retiring.

Lucille (Allan) Lowe ‘40 of San Antonio died April 9 at the age of 68.

1942John W. bauer ‘42 passed away Aug. 17. After retiring from the USAF, he worked as an accounting consultant.

Nelson E. “Web” Webernick ‘42 of Midland passed away May 10. He served as an assistant professor of geology at Southwestern University and worked for Marathon Oil Company as a petroleum geologist and exploration manager. In 1976 he began his career as an independent petroleum geologist.

1943Aldo Gohlke ‘43 died Sept. 25, 2009 at the age of 86. He taught vocational agriculture for 20 years in Yorktown.

1947Maurine (Laas) Fiedler ‘47 of Pasadena died May 8 at the age of 82.

Durwood Fuchs ‘47 of San Antonio passed away Aug. 29. He will be remembered as a long time printing and graphic arts teacher at Fox Tech High School.

Elizabeth (Schmidt) Holloway ‘47 died Sept. 1 in Rockdale. She was a homemaker, librarian and teacher in Bucholts.

Victor Niemann ‘47 of Seguin died Jan. 2, 2009.

Rev. Rudy O. Wendel ‘47 died March 16, at Hill Country Memorial in Fredericksburg. He was ordained into the Lutheran ministry at Christ Lutheran Church on June 7, 1953, and spent 36 years in active Lutheran ministry. He worked in parishes

in Iowa, Minnesota and Texas. He enjoyed singing with the Arion Maennerchor.

1948Robert becker ‘48 of Brownfield passed away Aug. 3 at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock. He taught vocational agriculture for 36 years. After retiring from teaching, he became an insurance agent for both Germania and National Farm Life Insurance Companies.

Ellen Alyce (Havemann) brown ‘48 passed away in New Braunfels at the age of 81. She was a teacher. After retiring, she enjoyed playing cards, puzzles and reading.

1949Roland W. Wiede ‘49 passed away April 22 at the age of 81.

1950Cordula (baethge) “Cordy” Priess ‘50 of Houston passed away July 8. She was a full time homemaker and avid tennis player.

1951Pastor Robert berry ‘51 of Cody, Wyo. passed away Oct. 4. He served churches in Haskell and Galveston. He served in the Navy as a hydraulics mate before becoming a minister.

Edward “Ed” brawner ‘51 of Seguin passed away on Aug. 19. He was an accountant in Seguin. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren.

1952Clifford bronstad ‘52 of Clifton, passed away March 25 at the age of 83. He retired from the retail industry in 1986.

IN MEMORIAM

Lawrence bernhard Cornelius passed away Aug. 23, 2010, in an Austin, Texas hospital after a short illness at the age of 81.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 until 1954 in the 5th Engineering Battalion. Later he served under President Ronald Reagan on the Senatorial Business Advisory Board in Washington, D.C. Through the years he served on numerous boards, including President of the Immanuel Lutheran Church Council, President of the Board of Regents at Texas Lutheran University, where he received his Honorary Doctorate upon retiring as President of the Board. He also was a charter member of the Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest, Lutheran Social Service Development Board, Men in Mission and Habitat for Humanity, as well as, World Hunger Association.


1953N. “John” blumberg ‘53 of Kingwood died Aug. 22 at the age of 79. He worked for the Slumberger Corporation for 30 years. He enjoyed golfing and ushering at the Kingwood United Methodist Church.

1954George Meitzen ‘54 of Lafayette, Ore. passed away on April 12 at age 77. George and wife Edwina (Eddie) continued the Meitzen family tradition of owning and publishing a newspaper. They bought the Dayton Tribune Printing Shop where they published the Dayton Tribune until 2006.

1955Dolen bartos ‘55 passed away Feb. 24 in Granbury at the age of 81.

Dorothy (Monson) Hahler ‘55 passed away March 11 in Seattle, Wash.

Margaret (Schroeder) Songster ‘55 of Westminster, Colo. died Feb. 19.

1956Ralph A. Frank ‘56 of Schulenburg passed away Oct. 16, 2009.

1961Leroy Moehrig ‘61 of San Antonio passed away Oct. 15, 2009.

1967kirby Dahl ‘67 of Cypress passed away Sept. 22. He was president and owner

of Space City Machine & Tool. He was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Cypress. As an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a longtime member and President of the Noisy Boys Men’s Club.

1968Charlissa (Smith) Turner Tucker ‘68 died June 30 at the age of 86. She was a resident of Seguin. She was a social worker for 30 years; she loved God’s people, her work, being a wife and mother and enjoyed music, nature, cooking, dancing and reading.

1969barbara Greene ‘69 died Sept. 12 in Laurel, Miss. She served in the USAF and retired from the U.S. Army as a registered nurse. She also played golf for a short time for the LPGA.

1972bob boenig ‘72 of Seguin passed away Sept. 23 at the age of 60. He retired from Motorola after 33 years of service. He loved fishing, hunting, camping, trail-riding, playing golf and farming.

Alice Morrow ‘72 passed away Aug. 22. Her career was dedicated to pediatric nursing and hospital administration. She worked in hospitals in San Antonio, Dallas and Palo Alto, Calif.

Ann (Jarvis) Smith ‘72 passed away June 14. She had a passion for teaching children

how to read and was a kindergarten teacher for 25 years. She enjoyed whitewater rafting, hiking and living at camp in the Colorado mountains.

1979Elizabeth (Reader) Richmond ‘79 of Beeville passed away Aug. 13. She was a teacher and coach in public schools and at Coastal Bend College. She was an active member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society and served on the St. Mary’s Academy School Board.

Dawne (king) Sweet ‘79 of Friendswood passed away Jan. 16, 2009. She worked for 28 years as an occupational therapist for children with disabilities through the Pearland and Clear Creek School Districts, Texas Children’s Hospital and other providers.

1980Ira Poole ‘80 passed away Oct. 25, 2009 in Austin. He worked in television as a news director and sales manager. He enjoyed football and coaching basketball.

Olivia Rodriguez ‘80 passed away Sept. 1, 2009.

1988Lorrie (Anderson) barrientos ‘88 passed away June 30, 2009.

1996barbara Dirks ‘96 of LaVernia passed away at the age of 52.

Edmund kuempel ‘64, Texas State Representative, passed away Nov. 4 at the age of 67. Kuempel was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Seguin in 1983. He staunchly supported the Texas Tuition Equalization Grant program in the Legislature, which helped make it possible for thousands of TLU students to attend the college of their choice.

Kuempel played baseball for Texas Lutheran College and graduated with a B.A. in business in 1964. Capitol colleagues affectionately nicknamed him “Kissin’ Kuempel” for his old-fashioned greeting with a kiss on the cheek or hand of a women colleague. He was well-loved by his fellow representatives and will be remembered for the great contributions he made to the state of Texas.

karl Giesecke, son of TLU Board of Regents member Susan Giesecke, passed away on Oct. 23 at age 42. He was a music enthusiast with an appreciation for all forms of music, but concentrated his studies on the piano. Never finding an instrument he didn’t like, he managed to acquire a collection of instruments from around the world. Karl was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church and had great love for the church and the congregation.

The Karl L. Giesecke Music Scholarship fund has been established at TLU in honor of his life.


GueSS Who...Who are these fine upstanding citizens? Do you know where and when this was taken? Hint: They are TLU alumni.

If you recognize anyone in this photo or know anything about this particular occasion, send your memories to us.

Last issueQuite a few faces stood out in the 1946-1947 photograph taken in the Old Main Commons.

Jerry Greif ‘56 identified his brother, Allan Greif ‘48, in the plaid shirt and Adolph Gottschalk ‘48 sitting on his right.

Alton Klier ‘48 recognized several former classmates: “Seated at the far end is Malcom Hoffman ‘50. Clarence Bohls ‘48 is seated to the right of the person wearing the ski sweater. The table behind Malcom, on the left end is Harroll Brau ‘48, the girl facing the camera is Jennave Klattenhoff and the one on table end is me. Behind me is Eugene Karcher ‘48. The table on the far right is Evelyn Finke ‘48 and Jean Engelhardt ‘47. The one seated across from Jean is most likely Louis Hart ‘47—he and Jean were almost always near each other.”

Send your memories to [email protected] or 1000 W. Court St., Seguin, TX 78155.

FLASH bACk



Save tHe Date

For more events and event details, visit tlu.edu/calendar.

Alumni and Friends!It is that time of year! Please visit www.tlu.edu/tlu_awards_program_nominate to nominate your favorite alumni or friend of the university for our Distinguished Awards. Nominations are due by Feb. 1, 2011 to the alumni office at [email protected] will be recognized at TLU Salutes on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011 during Homecoming weekend.

Polar Bulldog SwimDec. 9 at 3 p.m.Mabee Pool

Mid-Texas Symphony Concert“The Messiah Comes!”Dec. 12 at 4 p.m.Jackson Auditorium

Winter BaccalaureateDec. 18 at 10:30 a.m.Chapel of the Abiding Presence

Winter CommencementDec. 18 at 3 p.m.Jackson Auditorium

Day of the DogsFeb. 5Jackson Park

Shabach Gospel Choir Concert“Destiny Fulfilled: My Season, My Time” ConcertFeb. 9 at 7 p.m.Jackson Auditorium

Canadian Brass ConcertFeb.17 at 7:30 p.m.Jackson Auditorium

Shabach Gospel Choir ConcertFeb. 19 at 7 p.m.Jackson Auditorium

David Gergen LectureFeb. 22 at 7:30 p.m.Jackson Auditorium

San Antonio Alumni & FriendsTLU Night at the Majestic - WickedFeb. 23 at 8 p.m.

Study Abroad Photo Show OpeningMarch 3 at 3:30 p.m.ASC Fireside Lounge

Dramatic Media ProductionThe Solid Gold CadillacMarch 4-6Jackson Auditorium

TLU Band ConcertMarch 10 at 7:30 p.m.Jackson Auditorium

Houston Alumni & FriendsThe Blue Man Group at Jones HallMarch 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Second annual TLU Women’s Retreat set for JulyPlans are in the works for the second annual Women’s Retreat at Texas Lutheran July 22-July 23, 2011. This year’s theme is: “The

Way We Were; The Way We Can Be II: Soul Spa.” This year’s retreat will be full of fun, pampering and spiritual messages and is a great opportunity to connect with old TLC and TLU friends!

In addition to musical entertainment and spa activities on Friday night, ’79 graduates Mary Ann Springer Moore and Lisa Burkhardt Worley will share their insight on handling anger and menopause. Springer Moore’s talk will be “Anger, the Emotion that Destroys.” Burkhardt Worley will present, “Mental Pause: A Godly and Humorous Perspective on the Hormones that Rage Within Us.” There will also be a message on the power of prayer with Kirstin Brekken Shea ’81 conducting a session on meditative prayer and an optional session on yoga.

Springer Moore and Burkhardt Worley are currently Christian motivational speakers in Northern California and the DFW metroplex, respectively. Springer Moore received a B.A. from Texas Lutheran and was a member of the three-time national championship volleyball team. Currently, she is a Bible study fellowship leader, teaches Sunday school and mentors at-risk teens.

In addition to her B.A. from Texas Lutheran, Burkhardt Worley graduated with a master’s of theological studies from Perkins School of Theology at SMU in 2008. She was also a member of the TLC women’s basketball team and was a local and national television sportscaster for 19 years. At this time, Burkhardt Worley serves as the Women’s Ministry Leader at her church.

Brekken Shea, who graduated with a B.S. from Texas Lutheran and holds a master’s degree from Texas A&M, is currently an assistant instructional professor of kinesiology at Texas A&M University where she teaches kinesiology and physical education courses and has numerous publications on health and fitness, as well as yoga.

Seventeen women enjoyed last year’s inaugural event, “The Way We Were; The Way We Can Be.” The theme for the first retreat was “Transformation.” Keynote speakers were Mary Ann Springer Moore and Lisa Burkhardt Worley with ’79 graduates Mary Alice Horne and Noemi Rodriguez sharing their transformation stories. Music was provided by Madge James Rashell’s all-female Texas Lady Bugs Band and those attending enjoyed some dancing, late night board games and great food!

For more information or to sign up for this year’s retreat, contact either Lisa Burkhardt Worley at [email protected] or Mary Ann Springer Moore at [email protected].

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